THE BRIDGE TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 23145, 20 December 1938, Page 12

THE BRIDGE TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON FOUR VICTIMS CAUSE OF COLLAPSE SOUGHT DID LORRY STRIKE STRUT? [Pee United Press Association.] TAIHAPE, December 20. The inquest on the victims of the Hihitahi Bridge tragedy—B. W. Colwell A. W, Davidson, L. J. Bourke, and A. T. Moore—which occurred at midnight on November 19. when an army lorry returning to Waipukurau with 15 artillerymen crashed into the river when crossing the bridge spanning Hautaipa stream, was resumed before the coroner, Mr E. Loader, at Taihape to-day. Four men lost their lives and seven were injured in the crash. Dr N. A. Foden, Crown Law Office, Wellington, appeared for the police, and associated with him were Inspector J. Lander (Wanganui) and Sergeant J. M. M'Crae (Taihape). Mr R. C. Ongley appeared for Hobson, the driver of the lorry. m v Dr H. M. May (Taihape) said that 11. w. Colwell and L. J. Bourke died from drowning. Colwell had slight lacerated wounds about tne head. Davidson was pinned under the lorry, lying across his left side, and death was due to a crushed thorax. Moore had severe lacerations on the left side of the skull and haemorrhage from the nose, ears, and eyes. He was unconscious and remained so till death 24 hours later. Death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. THE DRIVER’S STORY. Alan Thomas Hobson, driver of the lorry, of Narrowneck, Audkland, said he recollected the evening of the accident. He had been driving for six months. He arrived at Taihape at 4.15 p.m. The lorry was easy to drive. This was the first time he had driven it, but he had driven the same make of lorry. Lance-bomber Ahlridge was in charge of the party. Hobson said he had no drinks in Taihape on the day of the fatality. He had been given instructions not to drink. He left Taihape at 11.15 to return. Ahlridge and Auty were in front with him. Light rain was falling when he left Taihape, and visibility was not difficult. The other troops were in the back of the lorry. There was nothing to interfere with his driving or control. He reached the point on the road leading to the bridge without mishap. As soon as he saw the bridge he changed to low gear and reduced speed. He had his foot on the brake and approached the bridge at 15 miles per hour. He was not surprised to see the bridge, and there was nothing wrong with the bridge in the way of obstruction. He got on to the bridge all right. He got on to it squarely, and as far as he was aware the lorry did not touch the bridge, which seemed to collapse all round as he got on to it. The next thing he knew he was in the river. There was no sound or impact. He did not feel the wheels come into contact with the side of the bridge. He had received no specific instructions regarding speed. The standing regulations said 20 miles an hour. Nobody distracted his attention approaching the bridge and nothing was wrong with his vision. To Mr R. C. Ongley, his counsel, he said he had been over the road only when he came to Taihape. It was Windy.

To Dr Foclen: He did not feel the wheels of the lorry leave the metal part of the road. OTHER FRONT-SEATERS. L. J. Auty stated in evidence that he was sitting in the front of the lorry at the time of the accident. He considered Gunner Hobson a good driver, who approached corners with caution. The lorry was holding the road well It entered the bridge squarely.. He was wide awake. He did not feel the right side of the lorry touch the side of the bridge. They entered the bridge on the usual track. The bridge seemed to give way when the whole lorry got on to it. It was raining slightly when they approached the bridge, but this did not impair visibility. He could say definitely that the lorry did not touch the bridge. He would have been aware of the fact if the lorry had struck the bridge or the right front wheel had struck the bridge. Everything happened so quickly that it was possible he could not remember all the details. To Mr Ongley: He did not know the width of the bridge, but there was ample room to pass over it. The vehicle did not veer over to the right. To the Coroner; They approached the bridge at 15 miles per hour. Lance-bombardier Autridge said ho was in charge of the party. Some members of the party had some drinks. He had a few. They were not prohibited from drinking. He felt quite at ease with Hodson driving. One man missed the lorry. He sat in the front seat, and there was very little talking. Visibility was quite good. The lorryseemed to be on metal approaching the bridge. Gunner Hobson changed gear approaching the bridge. He did not feel any impact prior to the lorry going into the stream. His recollection of what happened ceased before the whole vehicle got on the bridge. The full length of the bridge was lit up by lights. He had no feeling of impending disaster, and he was certain he felt no decided impact before he found himself in the river. To Mr Ongley: He saw marks on the bridge and the approach to the structure, but was not prepared to say they were lorry marks. In answer to a question, witness said he was certain Hobson had no drink on the day of the accident. WHAT A CARRIER FOUND. Samuel Freeman, carrier, of Karioi, said he arrived on the scene of the accident about midnight. He noticed as he approached' the bridge that it had

collapsed. He saw the lorry in the river, and saw impressions' of round grip tyre marks on the side of the road, off the metal. These marks corresponded with the tyres of the lorry. The marks were just barely off (possibly only a foot) the metal. He noticed there was a dual mark off the metal in the direction of . the marks in relation to the bridge, and deduced from the marks that it was impossible for the lorry to get on the bridge without striking it. His observations were made soon after the accident, and led him to believe that some part of the lorry struck the end strut. Two men were in the cab of the lorry when he arrived. They seemed to be dazed by shock. WAS BRIDGE STRUCK? John M’Donald, Rangitikei County overseer, arrived at about 1 a.m. on the scene of the accident. He thought from the tyre marks that the lorry had come in contact with the bridge. If the end strut was broken the bridge would collapse. Wallace Sturgeon, carrier and contractor, living at Hihitahi, near the bridge, said he arrived soon after the tragedy. On the same day as the accident he took a heavy load over the bridge of about 6i tons, at about 5.30 p.m. He did not hear the bridge break. He thought the bridge sound in every sense of the word. To the Coroner: Sometimes Igo over the bridge three or four times a day. There was no sign of a knock on the truss.